Wild launches refreshing confectionery flavour

Ingredients firm Wild has developed a line of natural flavours that
can be used to bring a refreshing effect to confectionery products.

The new Fresh Up flavours can also mask undesirable off-tastes and
can enhance the fruity notes in a product, claims the
company.
Until now, the flavours that have been most commonly used to
deliver a sensation of 'freshness' to confectionery products have
been citric acid, peppermint and menthol. However, these tend
to come with a distinct flavour of their own, and the cooling
sensation they deliver may last longer than required, according to
Wild.
Cooling ​
The company said that in contrast to peppermint or menthol, its
Fresh Up flavour "does not strongly benumb the tongue​
but occupies certain receptors on the tongue".​
Its refreshing effect, it said, works through the combination of
fruit flavour and a cooling effect.
The cooling effect lasts between 30 seconds and one minute,
depending on the application, explained a spokesperson from
Wild. This compares with the cooling effect of menthol or
peppermint, which lasts three to five times longer.
The flavours, which are a "combination of natural flavour
ingredients",​ can be used in any confectionery application,
but are particularly suited to fruity confectionery, including
jelly gums, hard boiled sweets, soft candy and fruity chewing
gum.
Flavour enhancement ​
An additional benefit of the Fresh Up flavours is that they can
intensify the flavour profile and the fruity note of the product,
when combined with other flavouring components, said Wild.
This adds a "fullness"​ to the product's flavour profile,
explained the firm.
It could also mean that less of the fruit flavour ingredient needs
to be added into an application in order to obtain the desired
flavour. According to the company spokesperson, confectionery
manufacturers may be able to reduce fruit flavour levels by 10-15
percent.
Flavour masking ​
Fresh Up is also able to mask off-tastes that may occur in some
confectionery applications, explained Wild.
These include "disturbing notes"​ that may occur in
products containing gelatin, or products with fat-fillings.
Additionally, citrus-flavoured products with a long shelf-life may
develop an off-taste with time. Fresh Up can also neutralise
the typical sweet taste of products such as jelly gums, said the
firm.
Stability ​​The new
flavours, which are so far being marketed only in Europe, are
available in liquid form. However, the company said that they
could also be supplied in powder form on request.
The flavours are used at dosage levels of between 0.3 and 1gr per
1kg of the final product.
According to Wild, the flavours are heat stable and are also stable
in processing conditions. They can be added into a
confectionery product at the same time as other flavours.
Fresh Up flavours do not have any impact on a product's shelf-life,
said Wild.
The company is also conducting tests using Fresh Up in beverages,
and expects to have a product ready to go to market in a month.